A Civil Contractor uses a roller on a job that they won thanks to a cost estimate provided by civilised estimating

Estimating Services for Civil Contractors | Civilised Estimating

Take the stress out of quoting. Focus on the work that matters.

Running a civil or earth-moving company today comes with more challenges than ever before. Between competitive tenders, client expectations, rising material and labour costs, and tight project timeframes, there’s constant pressure to do more with less — and still deliver high-quality outcomes.

Quoting for new work can be time-consuming, but it’s essential to growing your business. The problem? Every hour spent preparing tenders is time away from managing current projects — and every inaccurate quote can cost you money, either in lost jobs or painful rectification later.

That’s where Civilised Estimating comes in.

With over 15 years of industry experience, our team understands the demands and realities of civil construction. We provide accurate, professional estimating services tailored specifically for civil contractors — so you can quote faster, quote smarter, and focus on delivering great work.

Why Outsource Your Estimating?

Outsourcing doesn’t mean giving up control. It means working smarter with a team that knows your industry.

By partnering with Civilised Estimating, you can:

Increase the number of quotes you submit — without increasing your workload

Reduce costly under-quoting or scope gaps

Save time and resources in the early tender stages

Improve your chances of winning the right kind of work

Focus your internal resources on doing the job, not crunching numbers

In short: we take the pressure off, so you can focus on delivering quality projects and building your reputation — which, in turn, leads to return business, referrals, and company growth.

We don’t believe in generic estimating solutions. Every company is different, and your systems, scopes, and goals deserve individual attention. That’s why we work closely with you to create a tailored estimating solution that supports your operations — whether you’re a one-machine outfit or managing multiple crews across multiple sites.

What services do we offer?

We support civil contractors across all stages of the estimating process — from early project feasibility to full tender packages and trade breakdowns.

A Civil Contractor performs earthworks using an excavator after receiving a preliminary cost estimate

Preliminary Cost Estimate

Feasibility, fast.

In many cases, civil projects are put out for tender well before the final design is complete. At this early stage, investing too many internal resources into pricing can feel risky — but you don’t want to miss the opportunity, either.

That’s where a Preliminary Cost Estimate is the smart move.

Our team can prepare a high-level estimate based on early-stage or incomplete plans. Using current cost data, civil construction benchmarks, and real-world experience, we’ll help you:

Assess the likely cost and profitability of the job

Decide if the project is a good fit for your business

Express interest to the client professionally — without overspending on the tender phase

You stay in the game, without blowing your budget before the job even starts.

A Civil team undergoes trenching based on a detailed cost estimate from Civilised Estimating

Detailed Cost Estimate

Precision where it matters most.

Once the design is finalised and the project is moving forward, it’s time to lock in your tender. At this stage, accuracy is critical. A Detailed Cost Estimate gives you a full breakdown of the total cost of delivering the job — helping you create a competitive and sustainable quote.

We consider:

Current material and equipment hire rates

Up-to-date labour costs and productivity rates

Scope-specific factors like site conditions, access, or special approvals

Real-world construction sequences and durations

This level of detail helps you avoid costly oversights, reduce the risk of variations or disputes, and quote with confidence — especially when competing for Tier 1 and Tier 2 projects.

At Civilised Estimating, we use professional software and our in-depth understanding of the civil sector to deliver detailed estimates that are thorough, practical, and grounded in reality.

Reinforced concrete stormwater pipe on a job site for a civil contractor who received a Bill of Quantities from Civilised Estimating

Bill of Quantities

The measurements you need — nothing more, nothing less.

When you’ve already got a handle on your rates and margins, sometimes all you need is a Bill of Quantities (BoQ) to get quoting. We’ll take your project drawings and break them down into clear, trade-specific quantities across civil disciplines like:

Bulk earthworks

Drainage and stormwater

Roadworks and pavements

Kerbs and gutters

Retaining structures

Site grading and levelling

Services trenching

Our BoQs are formatted for ease of use, with clear headings and consistent structure, so you can simply plug in your rates and quote fast.

We use current industry standards and professional software to ensure accuracy, so you’re not left second-guessing or recalculating. It’s a simple, cost-effective way to reduce estimating time and submit more confident quotes.

Who We Work With

We provide estimating services to a wide range of civil contractors, including:

Earthmoving and excavation companies

Road and pavement contractors

Drainage and stormwater specialists

Subdivisions and infrastructure builders

Civil landscaping contractors

Tier 2 and 3 commercial subcontractors

Small-to-medium contractors looking to scale

Whether you’re a solo operator looking to take on bigger projects, or a growing team that needs professional support, we’re here to help.

Why Civil Contractors Trust Civilised Estimating

15+ Years of Industry Experience

We’ve been in the game long enough to know what works, what doesn’t, and how to spot problems before they cost you money.

Construction-Focused Estimators

We’re not just estimators — we understand the construction process, site logistics, and how civil jobs actually get done.

Customised Solutions

Every quote we prepare is tailored to your scope, your business, and your goals.

Fast Turnaround Times

We know the tender clock is ticking. We’ll work with your deadlines — not against them.

Clear, Professional Documentation

Our estimates are well-presented, accurate, and easy to use in internal reviews or client submissions.

National Reach

Based in Sydney, we service civil contractors across Australia.

Need Something Else?

We know every business is unique — and not every estimating need fits into a neat category.

If you’re working on a specialised tender, joint venture, or need a custom estimating package, we’re happy to help. We’ve worked with a wide range of civil firms, from boutique operators to major subcontractors, and we’re experienced at tailoring our services to fit each business model.

Whether you need editable spreadsheets, summary reports, or working files that integrate with your own systems — we’ll build the right solution for your workflow.

Contact Our Team

Whether you’ve got an urgent tender, a large pipeline of work ahead, or just want to see how we can support your quoting process — we’re ready to work with you.

Contact us now for your free consultation.

Call us on or email [email protected] to discuss your project and receive a tailored quote for services.

Let Civilised Estimating help you quote smarter, win more work, and grow your business — without the stress.